"Loneliness"

"On this day many years ago I went away alone to a cave in a mountain called Arima, in Japan. I felt many feelings of fear about the future. That was why I went there. I wanted to be alone with God.

The devil kept on whispering, 'It's all right now, but what about afterwards? You are going to be very lonely.' And he painted pictures of loneliness. I can see them still. Then I turned to my God in a kind of desperation and said, 'Lord, what can I do? How can I go on to the end?' And He said, 'None of them that trust in Me shall be desolate' (Psalm 34:22).

That word has been with me ever since, and I give it to you now. It has been fulfilled to me. It will be fulfilled to you. Only live for Him who redeemed you and trust Him to take care of you, and He will.

That day the words 'not only but also' were given to me too. There is not only joy but also sorrow in every life, but in the end - O in the end we shall see His face and we shall serve Him together."

~Amy Carmichael, from "Candles In The Dark"